Mother of the Beige Dress Refashion
When my friends and I made plans to meet up for Main Street’s monthly art crawl, I realized I didn’t have a thing to wear! I decided on this:
The weird thing about this piece is that it actually fits me perfectly. Beneath that flouncy top layer is a fitted dress. I like to think this is a late 70’s-early 80’s Mother of the Bride dress. I hope she was a nice mother-in-law and that the kids are still going strong. 😉
Upon closer inspection, I found this label which I think is pretty cool.
I know a lot of larger department stores used to have their own brands, but somehow I hadn’t yet seen a JC Penny frock before.
This is a simple one, you guys. I could have removed that top flouncy layer and turned it into a perfectly ok maxi dress, but every time I tried to put my scissors to that beautiful wide lace at the waist and sleeves, I just couldn’t do it!
Instead, I took my scissors to the bottom!
I COULD have left the bottom edge raw, as this is a non-fraying polyester, but I had a little time on my hands and I really wanted this dress to look nice & finished, so it got a simple hem.
I feel sort of lame for feeling this way, but one of my favorite parts of my new Pfaff is this little scissor button you see here:
Do you hate having to manually snip thread ends? With this you don’t have to. It automatically trims the thread from your work. Right there. Just by pushing a button.
I really don’t know how it works, but it’s pretty amazeballs.
ANYWHO…
After a quick press, my dress was ready to get it’s art on!
I styled this one with a set of vintage glass beads, grey tights, and modest patent heels. I think it has a cool 60’s-mod-meets-20’s-flapper look to it, and I’m really glad I saved that lace. 🙂
I like it from the back too.
I saw some really neat things, including this Day of the Dead display:
A few selfies were taken on my circa 2010 phone as well (no filter, just an old phone). 😉
Curious as to what became of that bottom scrap? I turned it into a no-sew infinity scarf!
Viva la No Waste ReFashion! 🙂
Cheers!
57 Comments
jo b.
when i saw the before picture of this dress, my thought was how in the world can she fix that thing! and so simple but so effective. You certainly have talent! i would never have seen that but you are teaching me. Thank you
Tessa
I just happened upon your site via Pinterest! I love your stuff and I really love this piece!
Trixie Lovelace
Truly inspiring what you can do! I just discovered you. Wow! LOVE THIS SITE!
Martini Doziér
oh my, that was hideous before! I’m amazed by your talent and your eye 🙂
Deana Grider
Jill, I am so of you and for you! Not expecting you to remember us…Deana and Terry Grider
Sofia
Michael! You’re alive!
Catherine
I still don’t understand how you can see the hidden beauty in some of these pieces, but you do. Amazing.
http://buildinglifelongreaders.blogspot.com/
Girl Friday
So cute! You make it look so effortless. I must learn your ways 😉
Ali
This turned out so freaking cute! Hated the before, LOVING the after! Very nice Jillian 😉
mindilee
so glad you didn’t touch it. this is lovely as is!
judy ross
Nice drapy material.it could also go great with leggings and short boots.
Beth
Cute cute cute!!! My favorite refashion ever!
Nancy T
Love it! One of my favorites that you’ve created. As an avid thrift store shopper and a so-so seamstress (no pun intended) you have inspired me to look at the ugly frocks in my local store and possibly maybe even attempt to redesign. Thanks for being an inspiration!
NancyW.
Love It!!!!
Bree
Ditto what everyone above said!!!! Just lovely… ‘Old world meets funk’ indeed! : )
Connie
Wow! One of the best ones you have ever done!! Ditto the first person’s comments!! Wish I were your size!!
maureen
Spectacular!
Jillian McKimm
Clever Girl! Lovely!! Old world meets funk! 🙂 Jillian
Susan
Super cute, such a inspiration!
Chris
What I think would be extra fun is if the original owner of the dress happened to see you and remember…
NelliL
looks nice.
Cathleen
Love that lace!
Valerie Geib
Wow! I am amazed at what you turn things into. That dress came out so cute, and looks adorable on you!
afrugalspinster
I’m amazed at the transformation one simple cut can produce. Thank you for not removing the lace.
Susan Wright-Boucher
In the before photo this dress looked like an impossible challenge but you turned it into something absolutely lovely. Great vision.
Joyce
Who’d a thunk it?!
Jill Schwieger
Like many others, I had my doubts about the original dress, but, as always, You created an absolute winner! You look incredible in the new, shorter, trimmer dress, and I love that you highlighted that gorgeous lace. It’s wonderful that the same dress was worn by two very different women, decades apart, and made each of you feel beautiful! Blessings…..Jill
Karen P
I have to say I doubted that you could turn that monstrosity into anything near decent, pretty or usable. I was wrong to doubt you Queen Refashionista – that is now beautiful! Love the retro look you achieved and the lace – well you were right not to cut it. Love this recycled and refashioned tunic Karen x
Nancy
The details (neckline and lace trim) took center stage once you removed that mammoth, overwhelming skirt. Good call. Great (and EASY) save. That neckline is very flattering for you.
Ginnie
I think this may be the most amazing one yet. Horrible dress as a starting point and oh, so cute finale. You have an incredible eye for transformation!
Davis
I love how you used the lance and the back how it was use you look so fancy the shoes are great love keep up the work I would hav cut the lance wrong you gave me ideas on how not to multilate my lace l ol thanks again
Carolyn
Me Likey!
debbierodgers @Exurbanis
Great choice to save that beautiful lace. You have sch a great eye!
Cathy H
Cute. Were do you get your ideas?
ReFashionista
They’re just flittering around in me noggin. 😉
Brianna
You are so trend-smart to see that it needed to be short and not a maxi! So cool.
Kasia
Great choice to leave the lace. The before picture is a classic.
slisle51
LOVE this refashion.
Amber
Love this!!!!!
Jo
You have ruined me, I can’t go into a second hand shop without you whispering in my ear-“see that, know what you could do with that, what if you cut this here and….”. Your words and pics are fun! Thx Jo
Barb Harrison
So happy when I open my mail, and there’s one from you! Most times I look at the before pic and think “Oh my!” Then, when you are finished working your snip, snip…whirr, whirr…I think “Oh my!”
elaine174
Unbelievable – something so awful into something so cute! Love it!
Betty
Very nicely done. Fun to think out the best option for a piece.
Crooked Smile Creations
Love the before pose. You look so full of hope!
Gaye @CalmHealthySexy
The original picture caused me to snort out a big laugh! Good thing I had already finished my coffee. I cannot believe the things you do with hideous dresses. The refashion is fantastic.
Kat Skinner
Truly one of my favorite refashions! Seeing that super ugly dress in the first picture, I couldn’t imagine how you were going to make good come out of it! But it turned out super cute!
JV
You have mentioned few times that you did not hem non-fraying fabric (or could have skipped it) . Is is just old-fashioned of me to feel like an item without a hem is not finished?
ReFashionista
Nope. Not at all. 🙂 Hem on!
beachbum
Oooo looks like an upscale poet bouse, I love it!
beachbum
oops that should be blouse 😉
Jenny
This is my favorite ee-fashion. I absolutely love it!
cheryl miller
OMG. Your eye for potential is unbelievable! Love the result! … and yes, love the scissors on my machine as well. But the THREADER, that makes my heart race! Your eyes and hands are still young!
Lindi
This one is so cute! Love following you.
Jean
I’m glad you kept the lace too. Makes it special and unique. Very nice and clever!
susie mccormick
WOW! WOW! WOW!! Super cute!!!!!!
M
Really, really cute!! I never would have given that dress a second look at the thrift store. You are so creative!! Thanks for your amazing inspiration!
ashley
this is fantastic. you are fantastic.